Fabric measuring and cost computing machine



. May 8, 1923.

G. C. 'HOSCH FABRIC MEASURING AND COST COMPUTING MACHINE v Filed May "5,1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v f v fireenewl%n 7/0807).

4 May 8, 1923. -1,454,285

5. 0. HOSCH 7 FABRIC MEASURING AND COST COMPUTING MACHINE Filed May 3,1920 2 Sheets-Sheet; 2

Greek: @260 j'mstl Patented May 8, 1923.

GREENE cAaLToNHoscH, on em. Louis, raissouar, Assrenon To THE MEASUEE-GRAPH COMPANY, or s'r. LOUIS, MISSOURI, .a coaronarion or DELAWARE.

. FABRIC MEAsUnrNe ANnoose: COMPUTING MACHINE.

' Application filed May 3, 1920. Serial No. 378,350.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, GREENE CARLTON HoscH, acitizen of the-United States, re-

siding in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented newand useful Improvements in Fabric Measuring and Cost Computing Machines,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a fabric measur ing or cost computing machine.These machines usually comprise a casing having. a horizontal gap inwhich the measuring roller and presserroller co-operate. The measurinroller drives indicating mechanism that in icates the length of thefabric measured. Before commencing the measuring operation the forwardend of the fabric should bev substantially aligned with the markingmeans or knife that may be employed for notching the edge of the fabricat the point where a measured piece is to be cut off. If the forwardedge of the fabric is not properly aligned with the marking means, aconsiderablevinaccuracy may result in the measurement taken. While suchan inaccuracy of measurement is always important, it isparticularlyimportant where a short length of fabric is to be measured, such as aneighth, 0r quarter of a yard. Before introducing the fabric into such amachine the presser roller is usually latched in an elevated position.By a sidewise movement of the fablie, the operator then introduces itintothe gap. After the fabric is in position the presser roller isreleased to permit it to come down upon the fabric to press it againstthe measuring roller. As these machines have been constructed in thepast, it is not absolutely necessary for the operator to introduce thefabric to the full depth of the gap, as a result of which, frequentlyonly a partial insertion of the fabric is made before the presser rolleris allowed to descend the fabric must then be worked backward andforward and pulled in an inclined direction toward the inner end of thegap so as to bring its longitudinal edge to the inner end of thegapbefore beginning the measurement. This causes a waste oftime andfrequently results in an inaccurate measure ment of'the fabric.

The general object of the present invention is to produce a machine ofthis kind which is so constructed that the operator of the machine willnaturally effect a complete insertion of the fabric in the gap beforereleasing the presser roller.

Further objects of the invention will ap pear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel features, and in the generalcombination of parts to be particularly described hereinafter, all

of which contribute to produce a simple and efficient fabric measuringand cost computmg machine.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the machine taken about on theline 3-3 of Figure 2; v

Figure 4; is a horizontal section taken abaut in the plane of'the-presser roller; an q Figure 5 is a side elevation showing a por?tion of an inner frame plate and further illustrating the actuating partwhich controls the presser roller.

The machine comprises a casing 1 which carries. indicating mechanismincluding handsQand 3 rotating on a dial 4: whichindicates yards andyard fractions. The indicating mechanism may also include charts Apreferred embodiment of my invention will be particularly described5511161 6 (see Figs. 1 and3), which 'co-operate withfixed scales 7 toindicate the charges to he made for the amount of fabric measured. Thecasing is formed with a horizon-;

presser roller frame or rocking frame 12' carries the presser roller 11and is provided with springs 14: which tend to pull the pressor rollertoward the measuring roller. 1 provide means for controlling the presserroller which is located near the inner end of the gap 8 and'adjaeent theinner end of the measu 'ng roller 10, substantially in alignment withthe marking means or knife, by means of which the fabric is marked atits et go 16 to indicate the point where the measured piece is to becut.

Before proceeding to a description of the details of the presser roller,I shall describe the marl-ring means. This means preferably compriies afixed blade 1'? (see 3), which is secured on a suitable bracket 18;,co-operating with this blade there is proa movable blade 19 which may becan ried on a knife lever 20, (see 2). This lever 20 is normally held inan elevated position by 2.. spri. 21h in which position the edge of themovable blade 19 forms an angle with the fixed blade 17. I provide meansfor controlling the presser roller, having an actuating); part 22 whichis dispos d in the angle between the blades 1? and 19 and substantiallyin the same plane with them, but on the inner side this controllingmeans may control the presser roller in any desired manner; in thepresent instance however, it merely operates as a release device toPGIP-Alll the presser roller to descend upon the-measuring roller and lutilize the lever 20 to effect the movement of the presser roller awayfrom'the measuring roller. For this purpose the presser roller frame 12may be provided with means, such as an arm 23 which projects into thepath of the knife lever 20. W lien the knife lever 20 rotates on thepivot .20 by means of a thumb plate 2 1- (see Fig. 2) which runs in anarcuate slot 25 in the casing, it engages the arm 23 and rocks thepresser roller frame in a direction to lift the press'er roller 11 awayfrom the measuring roller (see Fig. 3). I provide means which operatesto hold the presser roller away from the measuring roller when it hasbeen lifted in this way. This means preferably in the form of a latchingdevice (see Figs. 3 and 4) including a latch 26 attached at a pivot 27to a bracket 28 so that the latch will swing in a horizontal di rection.This latch has a. downward extension 29 which is provided near its lowerend with notch or shoulder 30. The latch 26 and the bracket 28 areconnected by a spring 31" (see Fig. 4-) which pulls the latch againstthe side of the arm 23. Now, when the arm 23 is forced down by the lever20, the spring 31 eventually will pull the latch over so that theshoulder will engage over the arm 23 (see Fig. 3), and hold the presserroller elevated. The side of the casing 1 is-provided with a largeopening 32 through which the thumb plate or actuating part 22 isaccessible from the exterior. From an inspection of Figure 25 it Willbe'evident that this lessees actuating part is formed on the latch, andlies in the angle between the blades 17 and 19 and also near the innerend of the gap 8. When the fabric 15 is to be introduced into themachine the presser roller is latched in its elevated position (see Fig.and the fabric 15 is then introduced 0 inserted into the rap 8 by asidewise movement of the fabric; that is to say, the fabric is movedlaterally until the edge 16 lies adjacent to the 'iner end of the gap 8.In doing this the operator seizes with his right hand. the forward edge16 of the fabric near the corner where its edge intersects thelongitudinal edge. The forward edge 16 at this time. lies substantiallyin the planeot the marking" means or blade 19 and the thumb of theeperatofs right hand. will then be directly opposite to the actuatingpart or thumb plate 22. Now, by a slight inward more. "rent oi the thumbthe thumb plate 22 will be actuated Fig.1) and this will can the releaseof the presser roller and pe it it to oesceno. upon the measurin roller.The measuring operation then proceeds.

igure 53 shows portion of a frame plate which is lo wet-ed directlybehind the fora wall of the casing}; 'llhis frame plate has asubstantially circular recess or slot corresponding to the substantiallycircular slot in the forward wall of the easinn.

In the operation oil the machine the presser roller 11 is held in itselevated position asindicated in Figure 8, and the operator thenintroduces the longitudinal. edge 16 of the fabric 15 into the gap 8 andby a lateral movement of the "fabric brings the edge 16 to a positionnear the inner end of gap and near the inner end of the roller. Theforward edge 16" rubric is then brought into substan- ..gmnent with theplane of the blade .order to'aecomplish this insertion of ric, one hand.of the'operator should seize the fabric near the corner formed by theintersection of the two edges 16 and 16" Fig. 1), and when the two edges16., 16 are Ipu'opevly aligned. the thumb of the operator will lie verynear to the outer 1 216 of the thumb'platc (see Fig. 1). lVhen the lieie has been positioned in this way. the operator presses on the thumbplate and l. u'esser roller then descends upon the measuring: roller;then the operator. with his hand in the in: me position exerts a pullupon the tabrie so as to pull it through the gap. ereby producing themeasuring movement in the fabric, the length of which is indicated bythe hands or pointers 2 and 3 the value of the fabric measured beingindicated. on the charts-,5 and 6.

It is understood that the embodii'nent of the invention described hereinis only one of the many embodiments-my invention ma ill) take, and I donot wish to be limited in the practice of my invention nor in my claims,to the particular embodiment set forth.

What I claim is: 1. In a fabric measuring machine, the

combination of a measuring roller, a presser roller to cooperatetherewith and mounted to move toward or from the measuring roller,marking means for indicating the point where the fabric is to becut off,holding means co-operating with the presser roller to hold the same awayfrom the measuring roller to permit the insertion of the fabric to bemeasured between the rollers and having an actuating part forcontrolling the presser roller located substantially in alignment withthe inner end of the measuring roller and in a vertical plane adjacentto the marking means. 2. In a machine of the kind described, th

combination of a casing having a gap therein through which the fabric tobe measured passes, a measuring roller mounted with its face disposed atsaid gap, a presser roller mounted to co-operate with the measuringroller and mounted to move toward or from the measuring roller, markingmeans including a fixed member and a movable mem ber, means actuated bythe movable member for raising. the presser roller, a latch co-operatingtherewith to latch the presser roller away from the measuring roller,affordingv means for releasing the presser roller, and having anactuating part located adjacent the inner end of the gap andsubstantially in the plane of the marking means. 'i

3. In a' machine of the kind -described,-the combination of acasinghaving a gap therein through which the fabric to be measured passes, ameasuring roller mounted with its face disposed at said gap, a presserroller mounted to co-op'erate with the measuring roller, a presserroller frame 'carryingthc same and mounted so as to enable the presserroller to be moved from or against the'measuring roller, marking meansincluding a marking lever, said presser roller frame having an armengaged by the marking lever to raise the presser roller, a latchco-operating with said arm to hold the presser roller raised and awayfrom the measuring roller and having an actuating lever lying'betweenthe the arm and the marking means and located substantially in alignmentwith the inne end of the measuring roller.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

GREENE CARLTON HOSGH.

